Terras take the fire out of the Pan
by Matt Pitman

Wednesday 27th October 2004

WEYMOUTH proved once again there is life after Steve Claridge with a hard-fought goalless stalemate at Lewes.

The Terras produced a battling performance at the Dripping Pan to take their
fourth point since their manager's high-profile departure.

It would have impressed the watching Steve Johnson, who is one of the many names in the running to take over the hot-seat.

Johnson, a former assistant manager at Lewes and brother of Yeovil boss Gary, was invited to the game as a guest of the Terras.

It could have been even better for Weymouth, however, had Lee Phillips converted their best chance of the game on 71 minutes.

The former Plymouth man rounded Rooks keeper Ade Bankole but saw his goalbound shot blocked on the line by the sliding Lee Fieldwick.

The opportunity came a minute after the home side had come within inches of taking the lead themselves.

Scrambled

Ex-Bradford striker Luke Cornwall beat Dave Waterman for pace down the inside left channel and hit a shot which squirmed under the legs of Jason Matthews.

The Rooks forward began to celebrate as the ball rolled towards an empty net, but Matthews scrambled back in time to save on the line.

The two chances sparked alive a game which had, up until then, failed to live up to the previous time the two sides had met, an 8-5 win for Weymouth in the FA Trophy last season.

Terras had gone closest in the first half with Phillips firing an angled shot wide.

The lively forward also had strong claims for a penalty turned down after he was sent sprawling under a sliding chal lenge from Joe Vines.

Chukki Eribenne, who was visibly struggling with a thigh injury in the first half, should have done better with an effort from the edge of the box which sailed high over seven minutes after the break following good link up play with Phillips and Lee Philpott fired straight at Bankole on 67 minutes
despite having the rest of the goal to aim at.

Lee Charles went even closer on 73 minutes when he forced former
Nigerian international Bankole into another smart stop but, in the end, the visitors were left pleased with a point after Lewes almost snatched the win moments later.

Paul Kennett swivelled past Martin Barlow and curled a shot on to the foot of the post with Matthews well beaten.

Weymouth : Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Dave Waterman, Nathan Bunce, Ian Hutchinson (Adam Wilde 78mins), Martin Barlow, Lee Charles, Chukki Eribenne, Shaun Wilkinson (Paul Gibbs 62mins), Lee Philpott, Lee Phillips

Subs not used : Simon Browne, Paul Buckle, Francisco Ramos

Lewes : Ade Bankole, Jay Lovett, Joe Vines, Max Hustwick, Lee Fieldwick, Paul Kennett, Kirk Watts, Barry More, Marc Whiteman (Barrington Belgrave 71mins) Luke Cornwall (Francis Duku 82mins), Dwain Clarke

Subs not used : Lee Newman, Peter Adeniyi, Danny Davis

Referee: Mr F Meilack

Bookings:

Weymouth : Dave Waterman (21) foul, Paul Gibbs (65) foul

Lewes : Lee Fieldwick (83) foul